"It is the madness of being a racing driver, you are completely taken over by it," said Hill.

"You have to be more than 100 per cent committed. It has to be your only focus.

"Michael, for example, is a little bit like Bernie Ecclestone. Every time you in your wildest dreams imagine something is the limit, they go that bit further.

"That is where Michael is different. Until he came along no one thought in terms of beating Fangio's record. Prost stopped after four.

"Michael just went on saying 'I'm not even stopping at five'."

For Hill, Button sits in the magic window between 30 and 33 where age and experience collide.

But team-mate Hamilton's moves to tidy his professional and personal life, as well as hiring F1 management expert Didier Cotton, can only make him a stronger contender.

Hill added: "That is a move in the right direction. Didier is experienced, he is not flummoxed by F1 politics, has seen it all, he will be very valuable to Lewis."

Ex-racer David Coulthard said the groundwork needed to be done before Hamilton arrived in Australia:

"To be a contender after a season like Lewis has had, you have to go away and spend the winter sorting it out in your head and I think he has," said Coulthard.

Le Mans winner Martin Brundle has a different solution: "I'd tell him to go and polish that incredible collection of trophies he's got to remind him how good he is. That's what I used to do and my collection is good but nothing like his."

Schumacher's chances of springing a surprise were given a boost as Mercedes' radical f-duct rear wing was given the thumbs-up the night before first practice by FIA technical delegate Charlie Whiting, even though rivals wanted it declared illegal.

"Is Vettel the man?" asked Hill.

"I think we know because his win at Monza, with an inferior Toro Rosso, was complete. Getting pole was one thing but to actually win the race means the guy has it in his head."

Brundle agrees: "Sebastian has zero distractions in his life. He's one of the youngest on the grid and has the total and utter support of his team. He's so complete my money would be on him unless one of the teams come up with a significantly better car."